An Iranian cleric has ignited controversy by advocating for the execution of protesters detained during the extensive crackdown on demonstrations against the country’s Islamic regime. This stark demand follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s warnings of potential American intervention if the Iranian government resorts to violence against demonstrators.
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, in a sermon aired by Iranian state radio, reportedly incited the crowd of worshippers to chant, “Armed hypocrites should be put to death!” His remarks have added fuel to the already tense situation in Iran as the protests persist.
Offering a rare glimpse into the extent of the upheaval, Khatami disclosed the first comprehensive statistics on the damage resulting from the protests that erupted in late December. This insight comes after the regime imposed a sweeping internet blackout on January 8, making it difficult to assess the protests’ full impact.
During the Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran, Khatami detailed the extent of the destruction, claiming that 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, and 20 other religious sites were affected. Additionally, he alleged that 400 hospitals, 106 ambulances, 71 fire department vehicles, and 50 other emergency vehicles were damaged in the unrest.
The situation in Iran remains fraught with tension as the international community watches closely, particularly given the potential for increased foreign involvement if violence against protesters escalates.
The cleric claimed 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls and 20 other holy places had sustained damage, the AP reported. Khatami also claimed that 400 hospitals, 106 ambulances, 71 fire department vehicles and another 50 emergency vehicles sustained damage.
Another 80 homes of Friday prayer leaders had also reportedly been damaged, the AP reported, adding that it could be a sign of demonstrators taking out their frustrations against the government as the leaders hold an important position within Iran’s theocracy.
“They want you to withdraw from religion,” Khatami said, according to the AP. “They planned these crimes from a long time ago.”
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
Khatami, who was appointed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and serves on the country’s Assembly of Experts and Guardian Council, had previously spoken out against protesters. He described them as being “butlers” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “Trump’s soldiers.”
Khamenei made similar remarks, saying that the protesters were “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,” referring to Trump.
Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
Trump has been vocal in his support for the Iranian people and said early on that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and ready to intervene if the regime used violence against protesters. It is unclear if and when the U.S. will take concrete action in Iran, but speculation has circulated following the bombing of the country’s nuclear sites in 2025 and the U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the State Department for comment.
